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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Sections 9010 and 10905 of the Patient Protection |
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and Affordable Care Act and Section 1406 of the Health Care and |
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Education Reconciliation Act impose a new sales tax on health |
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insurance that many policy experts agree will burden working |
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individuals and families, small businesses, and senior citizens, |
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contradicting a primary goal of health care reform by making |
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coverage more expensive; and |
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WHEREAS, Over a 10-year period, this tax will cause insurance |
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premiums on the individual market to increase by a national average |
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of $2,150 for single coverage and $5,080 for family coverage and by |
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a state average of $2,128 for single coverage and $4,800 for family |
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coverage; and |
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WHEREAS, The health insurance tax will also |
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disproportionately encumber small businesses through higher |
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expenses and cost the State of Texas billions of dollars in extra |
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government expenses; in addition, Medicaid beneficiaries will be |
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saddled with skyrocketing premiums, which will strain budgets, |
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decrease benefits, and potentially cause coverage disruption; and |
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WHEREAS, Exorbitant premiums are a disincentive for people to |
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obtain health insurance, especially younger, healthier |
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individuals, many of whom are more likely to forgo unaffordable |
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policies, which in turn diminishes the risk pool and makes medical |
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care even costlier; and |
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WHEREAS, The health insurance tax will stifle job creation, |
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increase health care expenses, and hurt the state economy, all |
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while leaving countless Texans without coverage and many insured |
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citizens with decreased benefits; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby respectfully urge the United States Congress to make health |
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care more affordable for individuals, families, and businesses by |
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enacting legislation to repeal the health insurance tax imposed by |
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Sections 9010 and 10905 of the Patient Protection and Affordable |
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Care Act and Section 1406 of the Health Care and Education |
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Reconciliation Act; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to |
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the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of |
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Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the |
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members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that |
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this resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record |
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as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America. |